Aging is inevitable, and for many, it signals the beginning of a new chapter - one where you cross off bucket list items and live life to the fullest, on your own terms. However, for some women, aging is a horrible prospect, filled with chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to perform in the bedroom. If you're concerned about life in middle age and beyond, we've got great news: there are easy, proven steps that you can take to help stop the negative effect of aging.
Global Life Rejuvenation was founded to give women a new lease on life - one that includes less body fat, fewer mood swings, and more energy as you age. If you're ready to look and feel younger, it's time to consider HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men and women are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
HRT, and growth hormone peptide therapies bridge the gap between your old life and the more vibrant, happier version of you. With a simple click or call, you can be well on your way to a brighter future. After all, you deserve to be the one in charge of your wellness and health. Now, you have the tools to do so - backed by science and applied by our team of HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
As women age, their hormones begin to go through changes that affect their day-to-day lives. For women, hormone deficiency and imbalance usually occur during menopause and can cause chronic fatigue, hot flashes, and mood swings, among other issues. Hormone replacement therapy helps correct hormone imbalances in women, helping them feel more vibrant and virile as they age.
Often, HRT treatments give patients enhanced quality of life that they didn't think was possible - even in their 60's and beyond.
The benefits for women are numerous and are available today through Global Life Rejuvenation.
As women age, their bodies begin to go through significant changes that affect their quality of life. This change is called menopause and marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycle and reproduction ability. Though there is no specific age when this change occurs, the average age of menopause onset is 51 years old. However, according to doctors, menopause officially starts 12 months after a woman's final period. During the transition to menopause, women's estrogen and other hormones begin to deplete.
As that happens, many women experience severe symptoms. These symptoms include:
The symptoms of hormone deficiency can be concerning and scary for both women and their spouses. However, if you're getting older and notice some of these symptoms, there is reason to be hopeful. Hormone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine for women can correct imbalances that happen during menopause. These safe, effective treatments leave you feeling younger, healthier, and more vibrant.
The most common reason for menopause is the natural decline in a female's reproductive hormones. However, menopause can also result from the following situations:
Oophorectomy: This surgery, which removes a woman's ovaries, causes immediate menopause. Symptoms and signs of menopause in this situation can be severe, as the hormonal changes happen abruptly.
Chemotherapy: Cancer treatments like chemotherapy can induce menopause quickly, causing symptoms to appear shortly after or even during treatment.
Ovarian Insufficiency: Also called premature ovarian failure, this condition is essentially premature menopause. It happens when a woman's ovaries quit functioning before the age of 40 and can stem from genetic factors and disease. Only 1% of women suffer from premature menopause, but HRT can help protect the heart, brain, and bones.
For many women, menopause is a trying time that can be filled with many hormonal hurdles to jump through. A little knowledge can go a long way, whether you're going through menopause now or are approaching "that" age.
Here are some of the most common issues that women experience during menopause:
If you're a woman going through menopause and find that you have become increasingly depressed, you're not alone. It's estimated that 15% of women experience depression to some degree while going through menopause. What many women don't know is that depression can start during perimenopause, or the years leading up to menopause.
Depression can be hard to diagnose, especially during perimenopause and menopause. However, if you notice the following signs, it might be time to speak with a physician:
Remember, if you're experiencing depression, you're not weak or broken - you're going through a very regular emotional experience. The good news is that with proper treatment from your doctor, depression isn't a death sentence. And with HRT and anti-aging treatment for women, depression could be the catalyst you need to enjoy a new lease on life.
Hot flashes - they're one of the most well-known symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes are intense, sudden feelings of heat across a woman's upper body. Some last second, while others last minutes, making them incredibly inconvenient and uncomfortable for most women.
Symptoms of hot flashes include:
Typically, hot flashes are caused by a lack of estrogen. Low estrogen levels negatively affect a woman's hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls body temperature and appetite. Low estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to incorrectly assume the body is too hot, dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow. Luckily, most women don't have to settle for the uncomfortable feelings that hot flashes cause. HRT treatments for women often stabilize hormones, lessening the effects of hot flashes and menopause in general.
Mood swings are common occurrences for most people - quick shifts from happy to angry and back again, triggered by a specific event. And while many people experience mood swings, they are particularly common for women going through menopause. That's because, during menopause, the female's hormones are often imbalanced. Hormone imbalances and mood swings go hand-in-hand, resulting in frequent mood changes and even symptoms like insomnia.
The rate of production of estrogen, a hormone that fluctuates during menopause, largely determines the rate of production the hormone serotonin, which regulates mood, causing mood swings.
Luckily, HRT and anti-aging treatments in Little Italy, NY for women work wonders for mood swings by regulating hormone levels like estrogen. With normal hormone levels, women around the world are now learning that they don't have to settle for mood swings during menopause.
Staying fit and healthy is hard for anyone living in modern America. However, for women with hormone imbalances during perimenopause or menopause, weight gain is even more serious. Luckily, HRT treatments for women coupled with a physician-led diet can help keep weight in check. But which hormones need to be regulated?
Lowered sexual desire - three words most men and women hate to hear. Unfortunately, for many women in perimenopausal and menopausal states, it's just a reality of life. Thankfully, today, HRT and anti-aging treatments Little Italy, NY can help women maintain a normal, healthy sex drive. But what causes low libido in women, especially as they get older?
The hormones responsible for low libido in women are progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone.
Progesterone production decreases during perimenopause, causing low sex drive in women. Lower progesterone production can also cause chronic fatigue, weight gain, and other symptoms. On the other hand, lower estrogen levels during menopause lead to vaginal dryness and even vaginal atrophy or loss of muscle tension.
Lastly, testosterone plays a role in lowered libido. And while testosterone is often grouped as a male hormone, it contributes to important health and regulatory functionality in women. A woman's testosterone serves to heighten sexual responses and enhances orgasms. When the ovaries are unable to produce sufficient levels of testosterone, it often results in a lowered sex drive.
Often uncomfortable and even painful, vaginal dryness is a serious problem for sexually active women. However, like hair loss in males, vaginal dryness is very common - almost 50% of women suffer from it during menopause.
Getting older is just a part of life, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for the side effects. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women correct vaginal dryness by re-balancing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. When supplemented with diet and healthy living, your vagina's secretions are normalized, causing discomfort to recede.
Uterine fibroids - they're perhaps the least-known symptom of menopause and hormone imbalances in women. That's because these growths on the uterus are often symptom-free. Unfortunately, these growths can be cancerous, presenting a danger for women as they age.
Many women will have fibroids at some point. Because they're symptomless, they're usually found during routine doctor exams. Some women only get one or two, while others may have large clusters of fibroids. Because fibroids are usually caused by hormone imbalances, hysterectomies have been used as a solution, forcing women into early menopause.
Advances in HRT and anti-aging medicine for women give females a safer, non-surgical option without having to experience menopause early. At Global Life Rejuvenation, our expert physicians will implement a customized HRT program to stabilize your hormones and reduce the risk of cancerous fibroid growth.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS, and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Xenoestrogen is a hormone that is very similar to estrogen. Too much xenoestrogen is thought to stimulate endometrial tissue growth. HRT for women helps balance these hormones and, when used with a custom nutrition program, can provide relief for women across the U.S.
Hormone stability is imperative for a healthy sex drive and for a normal, stress-free life during menopause. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women balance the hormones that your body has altered due to perimenopause or menopause.
HRT for women is a revolutionary step in helping women live their best lives, even as they grow older. However, at Global Life Rejuvenation, we know that no two patients are the same. That's why we specialize in holistic treatments that utilize HRT, combined with healthy nutrition, supplements, and fitness plans that maximize hormone replacement treatments.
If you've been suffering through menopause, is HRT the answer? That's hard to say without an examination by a trusted physician, but one thing's for sure. When a woman balances her hormone levels, she has a much better shot at living a regular life with limited depression, weight gain, mood swings, and hot flashes.
Here are just a few additional benefits of HRT and anti-aging treatments for females:
Hormone imbalance causes a litany of issues. But with anti-aging treatments for women, females can better process calcium, keep their cholesterol levels safe, and maintain a healthy vagina. By replenishing the body's estrogen supply, HRT can relieve symptoms from menopause and protect against osteoporosis. But that's just the start.
Global Life Rejuvenation's patients report many more benefits of HRT and anti-aging medicine for women:
If you're ready to feel better, look better, and recapture the vitality of your youth, it's time to contact Global Life Rejuvenation. It all starts with an in-depth consultation, where we will determine if HRT and anti-aging treatments for women are right for you. After all, every patient's body and hormone levels are different. Since all our treatment options are personalized, we do not have a single threshold for treatment. Instead, we look at our patient's hormone levels and analyze them on a case-by-case basis.
At Global Life Rejuvenation, we help women rediscover their youth with HRT treatment for women. We like to think of ourselves as an anti-aging concierge service, guiding and connecting our patients to the most qualified HRT physicians available. With customized HRT treatment plan for women, our patients experience fewer menopausal symptoms, less perimenopause & menopause depression, and often enjoy a more youth-like appearance.
Growth hormone peptides are an innovative therapy that boosts the natural human growth hormone production in a person's body. These exciting treatment options help slow down the aging process and give you a chance at restoring your youth.
Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.
Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.
Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.
One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies. Ipamorelin can boost a patient's overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life.
When there is an increased concentration of growth hormone by the pituitary gland, there are positive benefits to the body. Some benefits include:
Whether you are considering our HRT and anti-aging treatments for women in Little Italy, NY, we are here to help. The first step to reclaiming your life begins by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation. Our friendly, knowledgeable HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!
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Photo by Gabriele HoltermannWith COVID-19 in the rearview mirror and summer just around the corner, visitors from around the globe are expected to flock to Little Italy. While tourism is the lifeblood of the Lower Manhattan neighborhood, more people also equals more trash.With that in mind, New York City Council Member Christopher Marte, whose district includes Little Italy, announced the first-ever street-sweeping initiative in Little Italy in collaboration with the Association of Community Employment Programs...
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
With COVID-19 in the rearview mirror and summer just around the corner, visitors from around the globe are expected to flock to Little Italy. While tourism is the lifeblood of the Lower Manhattan neighborhood, more people also equals more trash.
With that in mind, New York City Council Member Christopher Marte, whose district includes Little Italy, announced the first-ever street-sweeping initiative in Little Italy in collaboration with the Association of Community Employment Programs (ACE) and the Little Italy Merchants Association (LIMA).
ACE, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in June, provides career development and work experience for homeless and formerly incarcerated New Yorkers.
The non-profit organization employs a team of street sweepers who clean sidewalks and gutters and bag the trash for collection. The team has kept SoHo streets clean for the past ten years and Delancey Street since last year.
Now, thanks to additional funding from Marte, ACE street sweepers are expanding their services to Little Italy, ensuring the route on Mulberry Street between Canal to Houston streets will be clean and free of overflowing trash bins — a move residents hope will also combat the area’s rat infestation.
At an April 18 press conference held on the corner of Mulberry and Grand Street, Marte described the collaboration between the government and private organizations as a “win, win, win” solution for the Italian enclave.
“We’re investing in Little Italy,” Marte declared. “Many people think that there’s no more Italians in this community. But that’s dead wrong. So I’m happy to do this initial investment, one of many to clean Little Italy.”
Marte, whose office contributed around $175,000 to ACE last year, lauded the workers’ dedication to keeping the streets of Lower Manhattan clean.
“One thing I love about caseworkers is that they really do become your neighbors,” Marte said. “You see them regularly. You say hi to them, they always have a smile, and they’re always doing the work.”
Marte called the collaboration an investment in the neighborhood.
“This shows that we don’t have to rely on a citywide initiative to do this,” Marte said. “We don’t have to wait until the rat czar puts out a plan to deal with this. We can invest in our own neighborhoods if we just come together and do the work.”
Vivian Catenaccio, vice president of Little Italy’s longstanding merchants group, also applauded the ACE workers.
“This weekend, I witnessed a young lady from ACE. Her name was Virginia,” Catenaccio said. “And she was so pleasant and accommodating, sweeping the streets, and I thought that was fantastic.”
Catenaccio also criticized the corridor’s dilapidated outdoor dining sheds, many stuck in limbo waiting to be cleared from city streets.
“We need the city to take down some of these sheds that are not being used, that are just being filled with garbage,” she said. “That’s a priority as well.”
With the help of the ACE crew, longtime Little Italy residents hope their historical neighborhood will become much cleaner for residents and tourists alike. Some said the trash and rat situation has worsened since the pandemic.
“There is less people but more trash,” Little Italy resident Edward Cuccia said. “And there’s a lot of illegal dumping. The mountain of trash we’ve got to deal with is overwhelming. This the first step, and we need it because they need the tourists to come back, and they won’t come back if it’s a trash heap.”
Cuccia also said that the rats were having “dance parties.”
“You can’t walk into the streets,” Cuccia said. “I actually kicked rats walking. It’s horrifying.”
Eighty-six-year-old Lorraine (last name withheld) owns property in Little Italy and was thrilled that ACE was expanding to her neighborhood. Until now, she has taken matters into her own hands, cleaning the sidewalk of her property every day.
“I love it,” Lorraine, who also complained about illegal dumping, said about ACE. “I own property, and I clean it up. My tenants are paying good rent.”
ACE crew members Ryan Gullo, Maria Berdecia, Virginia Davis, and Chris Aponte agreed that the program had given them a chance “to rejoin society.”
“ACE gave me the opportunity to get back in society, go back to work, and change my whole life,” said Berdecia, adding that she’s been with ACE for over four years.
Davis said working with ACE has given her freedom.
“I came through treatment, and I got a job at ACE, and I’ve been clean for 29 months,” Davis said.
LITTLE ITALY, Manhattan (WABC) -- Another iconic New York City business is shuttering following financial woes but has announced plans for a new location.Alleva Dairy in Little Italy is closing after 130 years of business at 6 p.m. Wednesday.(Video in player from previous story)The little cheese shop with its iconic red, white, and green sign sat in the heart of Little Ital...
LITTLE ITALY, Manhattan (WABC) -- Another iconic New York City business is shuttering following financial woes but has announced plans for a new location.
Alleva Dairy in Little Italy is closing after 130 years of business at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
(Video in player from previous story)
The little cheese shop with its iconic red, white, and green sign sat in the heart of Little Italy on the corner of Grand and Mulberry streets.
Karen King, the shop's owner, announced the establishment will close its doors after a long battle with the landlord. However, she says there is hope for a bright future for the business.
"After serious consideration, Alleva Dairy at 188 Grand Street will close on Wednesday, March 1 at 6 p.m.
I am so thankful for the support I have received from my devoted customers, neighbors, the news media and strangers from across the country.
Today marks a new chapter in the history of my beloved cheese store. Thanks to the vision, generosity and commitment of businessman and developer, Jack Morris, President and CEO, of Edgewood Properties, Alleva Dairy will be opening a 3700-square-foot store at 9 Polito Avenue in Lyndhurst, N.J.
There are not enough words to express my gratitude to Mr. Morris and his organization.
One thing is certain, Alleva Dairy will continue and will be bigger and better than before."
King fell behind on rent during the pandemic and set up a GoFundMe to pay some of it back, but the fundraiser never reached its goal of $35,000.
There is no word yet on when the new cheese shop will open in New Jersey.
ALSO READ | Sneak peek: MTA unveils 'subway car of the future'
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The MTA hosted a special preview event, giving reporters a ride aboard its brand new R211 subway cars. N.J. Burkett has the story.
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Alleva Dairy served up hunks of fresh mozzarella at the corner of Grand and Mulberry streets through the Great Depression, the city’s bleakest years of the late 1970s and the aftermath of 9/11. But it could not survive Covid.The shop at 188 Grand Street in Little Italy, which claims to be America’s oldest cheese purveyor, is closing for good at the beginning of March after falling behind on its $23,800-a-month rent, the ...
Alleva Dairy served up hunks of fresh mozzarella at the corner of Grand and Mulberry streets through the Great Depression, the city’s bleakest years of the late 1970s and the aftermath of 9/11. But it could not survive Covid.
The shop at 188 Grand Street in Little Italy, which claims to be America’s oldest cheese purveyor, is closing for good at the beginning of March after falling behind on its $23,800-a-month rent, the New York Post reported.
“My store is the oldest cheese shop in America and the heartbeat of Little Italy. We’re a New York institution,” owner Karen King told the paper.
Alleva — whose regulars have included actors Michael Imperioli, Chaz Palminteri and Leah Remini — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September in a bid to restructure its debt, which had ballooned to over $620,000.
“The pandemic devastated my business,” King said.
The shop’s landlord, the Stabile family, sued to evict it in April of last year, and eventually struck a deal to forgive the debt if the shop vacated its location by March 5, the Post reported.
Alleva is one of several long-standing bars and restaurants in Lower Manhattan to succumb to the pandemic, including Fedora and Chumley’s in the West Village and China Chalet in the Financial District
Lockdowns early in the pandemic caused the city’s food service sector to lose nearly two thirds of its workforce between the first and second quarters of 2020, according to a report by the state comptroller’s office.
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund, a $28.6 billion federal relief program, ran out of money in July 2021 after paying out less than a third of applicants.
King told the Post she sought, but failed to receive, help from a number of government entities and elected officials, including the governor.
Despite the setbacks, King has not ruled out the possibility of relocating.
“We are committed to remaining here in Little Italy, hopefully for another 130 years,” she told the Post.
— Ted Glanzer
Every traveler's must-see list includes Little Italy because of its genuine pasta meals, which are offered by the top Italian restaurants, and its romantic, old-New York ambiance. In the 1880...
Every traveler's must-see list includes Little Italy because of its genuine pasta meals, which are offered by the top Italian restaurants, and its romantic, old-New York ambiance. In the 1880s, immigrants from Naples and Sicily flooded the region, creating the once-Italian neighborhood that now stretches from Canal to Houston Streets, between Lafayette Street and the Bowery. The majority of it is now concentrated in the blocks surrounding Mulberry Street, which also happens to be home to some of New York City's hottest boutiques and bars, but what is left is still going strong. Mulberry Street is regarded as Little Italy's beating heart. It is the perfect spot to unwind, eat delicious food, and people-watch because it is lined with eateries and cafés that provide outdoor seating. Here is what you can do there.
Related: NoLita, New York City: What This Italian Hub Is Known For
Mulberry Street, Little Italy's primary thoroughfare since the early 20th century, is also maybe its most pleasant, laid-back area, drawing tourists from all over the city. The street, which is lined with cafés, street stalls, social clubs, and numerous Italian fast-food and snack vendors, comes alive at night when the lights are turned on, and restaurant owners display their menu specials to onlookers.
The Mulberry Street Bar, which is located on the fringe of the main strip of cafés and restaurants, is not the typical watering spot. The tavern, which has been open since 1908, has hosted several actors, mob bosses, and actors portraying mob bosses. The setting for various movies, including Contract on Cherry Street, Donnie Brasco, and Godfather III, as well as sequences from The Sopranos and Law & Order, is a favorite in Hollywood. The bar's interior has not altered much since it first opened, and the pressed tin ceiling and dark wood walls give it a mafia vibe. The Four Tops, Elvis, and Sinatra may all be found on the jukebox. It is still a bar, so tourists can grab a Peroni and unwind.
Caffé Roma, which has been operating at the same location since 1891, is well worth visiting for its charming old-fashioned decor alone; their coffees and authentic Italian pastries, like tiramisu, cannoli, and ricotta cheesecake, are also delicious and worth the calories. When tourists finish their desserts, the café does not seem to want to send their guests away either. It is recommended to grab a table beside the window is still available.
Moreover, tourists shall not miss Ferrara Bakery & Café if they want to satisfy their sweet tooth and learn a little about Little Italy's history at the same time. Everyone can find something to enjoy there with their coffee or to take home and enjoy later. Its opening schedule is similar to Caffé Roma.
Related: Think Italian Food Can't Get Any Better? Try Italian Street Food
Every neighborhood has a distinct atmosphere and culture. The best street art may be found in New York City, and Little Italy is renowned for its excellent concealed graffiti. At 176 Mulberry St., one of the most well-known buildings in the city, an Audrey Hepburn mural may be seen. There are a ton more wonderful places to appreciate and take pictures of.
Several fantastic vintage shops offer distinctive clothing and accessories. Mulberry Street is an excellent place to go shopping. Creatures of Comfort is a Los Angeles-based retailer that has a branch at Mulberry Street that carries both pricey and reasonably priced contemporary clothing. Christian Siriano is another trademark in the area. This American designer built his boutique in the exclusive neighborhood after winning the fourth season of Project Runway. The line includes fashionable evening clothing as well as more affordable, creative streetwear and fashionable accessories. Tourists can discover and shop elegant necklaces, silk tops, and attractive patterned scarves here, all surrounded by marble stones and other accessories.
The Feast of San Gennaro is a religious festival honoring the patron saint of Naples, Italy, but it is also noted for its joyous atmosphere, mouthwatering fare, and eye-catching processions. Little Italy is transformed into a patriotic celebration for 11 days, complete with special guests, live music, and a cannoli-eating competition. Since 1926, the smell of fried dough and smokey sausage and pepper Sandos has filled Mulberry Street's air in celebration of the patron saint of Naples. Over a million people visit to promenade the strip of vendors and taste the crispy cannoli and zeppole that are typical of Italy. The feast's revelers are skilled at throwing a party while holding food, thanks to nearly a century of practice. There is no event complete without a parade, and the Grand Procession is a fantastic one. The parade includes marching bands, floats, spectators, and, most significantly, the San Gennaro statue.
NewsWe rely on your support to make local news available to allMake your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2023. Donate today Hundreds of onlookers crowded near Mulberry Street in Little Italy on Saturday to watch a parade of red, white, and green floats; Cadillacs flying Italian f...
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Hundreds of onlookers crowded near Mulberry Street in Little Italy on Saturday to watch a parade of red, white, and green floats; Cadillacs flying Italian flags; and marching bands playing Italian music for the 96th annual Feast of San Gennaro.
Since its founding in 1926, the festival – named for the patron saint of Naples, Italy – has grown and transformed far beyond what was just a small neighborhood block party a few decades ago, according to several longtime vendors. Favorite games like roulette and the grease pole climb have disappeared due to gambling laws and insurance. Food stalls sell tacos, boba tea, and cornbread alongside Italian-American staples like sausage spirals and cannolis. And Little Italy has significantly shrunk as gentrification takes hold.
While critics worry the festival has lost its “authentic” or “traditional” Italian roots, several vendors say they welcome the change.
“If we don’t change, we don’t survive,” said Danny Fratta, a vendor selling zeppole, fried dough balls covered in powdered sugar. “So we need to update things and attract newer people because we want to make sure the feast keeps going.”
Beyond adapting to a changing neighborhood and city, the festival also faces other challenges – including driving its massive floats down a narrow street packed with food stalls. This year, some vendor stalls jutted out too far into the street.
That posed a particular problem for the last float to drive down Mulberry Street, which was topped with women calling for donations for the parade’s organizers: the Figli di San Gennaro, or “Sons of San Gennaro.” Meanwhile, a man in a flat cap pinned the bills to a metallic statue of the patron saint.
The Figli di San Gennaro float shattered a glass wind chime hanging on one stall. And it got stuck – twice – so marshals, police, and onlookers had to help the float maneuver around the extra vehicles. This year was the first time a float had gotten stuck during the parade, according to John Fratta, the 69-year-old vice president of the Figli di San Gennaro, and a great-grandson of one of the festival’s founders. Another first, John Fratta said, was the shutdown of two stands selling cannabis.
When the parade’s snare drums and brass bands were gone, some street hawkers blasted the sounds of Latino musician Bad Bunny from their speakers. Several of the vendors were people of color – like Black, Mexican, Salvadoran, Yemeni, or Asian, selling everything from barbacoa to street art. International food vendors started entering the festival about 30 years ago, according to John Fratta – long after 1973, when Ernest Pipoli said his uncle started selling water and soda from two barrels at the festival. But Pipoli says he embraces the new vendors.
“Listen, we’re in New York: you’re not going to put up two gates and say Italians only,” said Pipoli while standing near a taco stand next to his sausage stall, Pip’s Pit. He added: “Everybody deserves to make a couple of bucks.”
And now, the festival has entered the social media age. TikTokers post festival food crawls. The festival even has a P.R. agent and an Instagram page now, too, according to John Fratta. Danny Fratta said he asked a TikTok comedian duo to co-host his upcoming zeppole eating contest.
“I really believe that the way we became stronger again was through social media,” he said. He added: “So as long as we keep that going, we’re here, we’re strong.”
Fortunato Mugnano, of Nashville, Tennessee, said he had wanted to come to the New York City festival because he had heard of it when he was growing up in Naples, which hosts a smaller version of the Feast of San Gennaro. He sees the New York City festival as very Italian-American, which he called “affectionate towards traditions.” For people living in Naples, he said, “You don’t even care about it so much.”
The 11-day festival will take place until Sept. 25.
